KR20200074116A - Stringed instrument with interconnected frets that divide the fingerboard into independent detachable fragments - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention includes an elongated structure along the length of the neck of the instrument, the elongated structure being connected to each other to divide the fingerboard into independent detachable fragments of the structure, a series of lengths perpendicular to the neck and the structure It relates to a string instrument, characterized in that formed by, the length portion serves as a fret in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Description

Stringed instrument with interconnected frets that divide the fingerboard into independent detachable fragments

The present invention has an elongated structure (FIG. 1) along the length of the neck 4 of the instrument, which is connected to each other to divide the fingerboard 3 into independent detachable fragments of the structure. It relates to a string instrument, characterized in that formed by a series of lengths (1) perpendicular to the neck and the structure. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lengths are connected to each other by a base on which they all rest, and function as frets of the musical instrument.

The fact that the frets of the instruments are connected or joined together along the length of the neck provides the instrument with sound quality that clearly improves what is present with the latest technology.

The technical field to which the present invention pertains is considered to be the field of physics, particularly the field of physics applied to the manufacture of string instruments.

In general, in the field of application of the present invention, the frets of stringed instruments are metal bands or strips, which are usually embedded or fixed in a specific groove marked on a fingerboard, the latter forming a single piece, which are Displays the tonal distance (usually a semitone).

For ease of understanding, we provide links to examples of common "refretting" videos on electric guitars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD93U2_CiW4

The frets are generally made of a metal alloy combining nickel, silver and/or steel. The fingerboard, on the other hand, is usually a flat piece of wood (usually ebony, rosewood or maple) that adheres or adheres to the instrument's shaft. When you place your finger on the string and press it against a fret embedded in the fingerboard, a note is produced.

The state-of-the-art technology present in this application does not present a stringed instrument incorporating compartmentalized or fragmented fingerboards in as many independent sections as the number of frets, but rather a fingerboard (stringed instrument with it, but not all, will be presented here). ) Is always a single piece in which grooves or inserts are indicated, where a metal strip forming frets is embedded.

The general technique of freting such stringed instruments is a commonly used technique, but not the only one. In that sense, there is evidence that the first electric stringed instrument clearly contained the neck in a single piece made of aluminum containing the fret itself within that piece, without the fret being buried in the groove marked on the fingerboard. This instrument was the subject of patent invention in US Patent No. US2089171. The same or very similar technology is obviously used in patent number US8324489. These publications do not interfere with the patentability of the present invention as claimed.

The Spanish Utility Model No. ES0092207 describes other common fretting techniques, which explicitly claims for a freting system in which the frets are integrated into the fingerboard to form a single piece with the fingerboard. )". This publication does not affect the novelty or inventiveness of the present invention.

Meanwhile, in recent years, the use of fingerboards made of materials other than wood, such as aluminum or carbon fiber, has been relatively expanded. In this regard, it is worth citing the Spanish patent number ES255348, which claims to be a protective scope for necks and fingerboards made of carbon fiber. For example, the following publications disclosing the use of necks and/or fingerboards of aluminum are also cited:

http://www.ricktoone.com/2016/03/old-growth-walnut-skele.html

http://www.electricalguitarcompany.com/

http://bastinguitar.com/

These instruments include frets in the grooves marked on the fingerboard, and in certain cases, there is no evidence that they use freting techniques that are different from conventional ones, because the fingerboard has a feature that is not made of wood. Therefore, they do not interfere with the patentability of the present invention.

The main technical problem in using fringes and frets made entirely of aluminum (or other metal) or metal materials is the absence of wood. Certain types of wood commonly used in the manufacture of musical instruments (as well as stringed instruments) have sound, vibration and sound propagation properties that metal materials do not have, especially known in the field of the invention as "warms" of sound. . The worms depend on the type of wood used, and there are woods that give greater radiance to the sound of the instrument, woods that better balance the bass and treble, and woods that allow a clearer sound.

On the one hand, the claimed invention shows a technical step in the connection of the frets of the instrument (producing louder sound, increasing natural volume and greater clarity), on the other hand, a preferred embodiment of the invention In, it shows the technological steps in the combination of metal material (promoting propagation) and wood (preserving the worms of the sound).

In addition, although it has been confirmed in the prior art to use metal pieces embedded in the neck of a stringed instrument or pieces of other materials with a wood fingerboard (we understand that this is to provide rigidity or robustness to the neck of the instrument), metal Without any variation in conventional fretting using strips, it does not achieve the specific sound produced by the connection of all frets characterized by the invention claiming protection. For example, the following publications are cited:

http://tbeamguitar.blogspot.com.es/2007/06/background-why-and-how.html

http://www.vintagekramer.com/alum.htm

Accordingly, these publications do not interfere with the patentability of the present invention.

Finally, a stringed instrument having no fingerboard was identified, as in the case of patent US2014033905, but this does not interfere with the patentability of the present invention claiming protection because it includes very different fret structures from the fingerboard.

Therefore, there is no indication that the present invention exists in the prior art, there is no indication of a slightly similar publication, and the subject matter of the present invention is clearly beyond the ordinary technical level in the field, so the present invention is an expert in the field. It is not considered as a result of the latest technology.

Description of the invention

The present invention comprises an elongated structure (FIG. 1) arranged or arranged on the neck 4 of the musical instrument, which elongate structure comprises a set of lengths 1 perpendicular to it, which lengths ( 1), in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, extends beyond the surface of the fingerboard 3 and serves as the frets of the musical instrument, and is connected to each other through a base on which all lengths 1 are placed.

Using the above-described structure, the fingerboard is no longer a single piece stuck or adhered to the shaft of the instrument, but is divided, segmented, and fragmented into as many independent sections 3 as the frets possessed by the instrument. Splitting the fingerboard into independent sections does not prevent, for example, joining along one of their edges, so inserting them in the neck 4 as if it were a single unit, instead of taking and inserting them individually. And can be taken out.

Considering that the frets are no longer small metal strips embedded in the fingerboard, but higher and more rigid lengths (1), using this structure (Fig. 1), it is obvious in terms of volume since all frets of the instrument are connected to each other Improvements and benefits can be provided to the instrument, which makes it easier to disperse the sound produced by the instrument, especially if the instrument is electric.

This elongated structure can be much longer than the neck itself, as shown in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and can have a length that reaches the body 6 of the instrument and is integrated therewith or forms the body itself. Likewise, the elongated structure may reach the head 5 or head stock of the musical instrument, or may take a shape in the upper part of the head stock itself.

This structure (FIG. 1) can be made of a single piece or several assemblies.

Finally, this structure (Figure 1) does not prohibit the instrument from including a core or metal bar along the inner length of the neck, which can be angled to offset the tension created by the strings. This is achieved by providing the structure (FIG. 1) with a longitudinal bar 2 along the back side forming a "T" shape within which a core can be placed.

Description of drawings

This specification includes a series of drawings to assist the examiner and the public in understanding the described invention for which protection is claimed, and these drawings are illustrative only and should not be limited in nature.

1 shows an embodiment of the elongated structure referred to herein, the longitudinal lengths 1 and the core of the musical instrument, which can be disposed therein, arranged along the back of the structure, the longitudinal direction "T" The bar 2 is shown.

FIG. 2 shows how the independent fragments of the fingerboard 3 are arranged and partitioned by vertical lengths 1 and a longitudinal bar disposed at the rear of the structure 2 and the elongated structure itself is the neck 4 of the stringed instrument. It shows an elongated structure that shows how it is integrated into.

Figure 3 is an embodiment of a stringed instrument (other in this case) in which a portion of the neck 4 and body 6 includes the elongated structure referred to herein, whose length does not reach the head stock 5 of the instrument. Is shown.

4 shows an embodiment of the elongated structure seen from the rear, where the entire length of the longitudinal “T” bar 2 can be seen.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

An example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is an electric guitar (FIG. 3), which is manufactured by Zicral and includes an elongated structure (FIG. 1), also known as Ergal or Fortal Constructal, which forms a single piece.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elongated structure (FIG. 1) was developed from a metallic material to facilitate dispersion of the sound produced by the electric musical instrument.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the elongated structure (FIG. 1) comprises a series of vertical lengths 1 of a height sufficient to meet the surface of the fragments of the fingerboard 3 separated by their lengths, thus These function as frets of musical instruments.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one end of the elongated structure (FIG. 1) reaches and integrates with the body 6 of the instrument, while the other end has a head stock 5 of the instrument. Do not reach

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the independent fragments of the fingerboard 3 are wood, and the elongated structure (FIG. 1) includes a longitudinal "T" bar 2 on its back side, which is a preferred embodiment. Although not included in the example, a core may be disposed inside it.

Industrial application

The present invention, which requires protection, is considered to have obvious industrial application because it is either completely manufacturable or usable in the music industry to provide a better volume of stringed instruments.

This description is deemed clear and concise enough to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the scope of the invention. The terms used in the specification for this description should be taken in the broadest sense, not the limit, and the present invention may be used in a form different from the preferred embodiment described in an exemplary manner, all of which are based on the basic principle. It is included within the protection scope of the present invention unless modified or changed.

Claims (11)

As a string instrument,
Includes an elongated structure (FIG. 1) formed by a collection of vertical lengths 1 connected to each other along the length of the neck 4 of the stringed instrument, wherein the vertical lengths 1 are separable from the structure. String instrument, characterized in that for dividing the fingerboard (fingerboard) into the fragments (3). According to claim 1,
The elongated structure (FIG. 1) is a string instrument, characterized in that it is made of a single piece (single piece). According to claim 1,
The elongated structure (FIG. 1) is a string instrument, characterized in that it is made of a metal material or a metal alloy. According to claim 1,
The elongated structure (1) is longer string than the neck (4), characterized in that it reaches the body (body) (6) and / or head stock (head stock) (5) of the string instrument. According to claim 1,
The independent pieces of the fingerboard (3), characterized in that the elongated structure (Fig. 1) and stringed, characterized in that the vertical length (1) made of a different material. The method of claim 5,
The independent pieces of the fingerboard (3) is a string instrument, characterized in that it is made of wood. According to claim 1,
The independent pieces of the fingerboard (3) are a single piece, characterized in that they are connected to each other in a manner that can be inserted and taken out of the elongate structure (Fig. 1). According to claim 1,
The elongated structure (FIG. 1) is a string instrument, characterized in that it comprises a lengthwise "T" bar 2 along the back. The method of claim 8,
The longitudinal bar (2), characterized in that it comprises a core capable of adjusting the angle of the neck (4) and also offset the tension caused by the strings of the string. According to claim 1,
The stringed instrument is characterized by consisting of an acoustic plucked string (acoustic plucked string) instrument. According to claim 1,
The stringed instrument is characterized in that it consists of an electric plucked string (electric plucked string) instrument.

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